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Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray: I have a ‘tremendous amount of faith’ in our offensive line

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) pushes off of Cincinnati Bengals defensive end DeQuin Evans (69) in the second half of NFL preseason football action at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, August 24, 2013. (Brad Loper/The Dallas Morning News)

IRVING – While the starting offensive line appears to be a major concern for the Dallas Cowboys entering Sunday night’s season opener, starting running back DeMarco Murray said Monday that he has a “tremendous amount of faith” in the group.

Left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick are set. The other spots still haven’t been finalized but it will likely be a combination of three of these four: Doug Free, Ron Leary, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Jermey Parnell.

“Great guys. One of the hardest working groups on our team,” Murray said. “Coach Frank [Pollack], Coach [Bill] Callahan do a great job with those guys, getting those guys ready. They’ll be ready come Sunday.”

Murray had his best game of the season last year in the opener, rushing for 131 yards on 20 carries in a 24-17 Cowboys road victory over the Giants. It marked Murray’s fourth-career game of 100 or more yards, but his only one of the 2012 season. The Cowboys went on to finish 31stin rushing offense.

Why should anyone think the group will be improved in 2013?

“You can say this and that, but it’s all a mindset for us,” Murray said. “I think it comes to coach Callahan and the mindset he brings when he’s calling plays, when he’s talking to us, just that fire he has.

“Myself and the offensive linemen, we have to make sure we work together day-in and day-out and get the little things right to make sure the big plays are there.”

One of the biggest changes on the offensive line is that Pollack was hired as assistant line coach in February and Callahan, the team’s offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, became the full-time offensive play-caller. That tandem has been implementing more zone blocking, and according to Murray, adding a few wrinkles that the Cowboys haven’t shown during the preseason.

“I don’t want to get into details,” Murray said. “We’ve made some changes. We’ve kept a few things. You’ll see come Sunday.”

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